Electrical apparatus for controlling signal or other circuits



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l H. A. PARRISH.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUSPOR CONTROLLING SIGNAL OR OTHER CIRCUITS.

M 509244. Patented Nov. 21, 1

N'l f n I I a gm 9 w ll! I IIH 1% If s N J (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H.. A. PARRISH.

ELECTRICAL-APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING SIGNAL OR OTHER CIRCUITS. No.509,244. Patented Nov. 21, 1893.

a i I" 1% W a (y W I akin nu U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

oME A. PARRISH, or JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OFONE-TENTH TO EUGENE.LWEEKS, or SAME PLACE, AND GEORGE A. W. DODGE, on NEW HAVEN,CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING SIGNAL OR OTHER CIRCUITS. 4

SPEGTFIUATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,244, dated November21; 1893. Application filed January 28,1893. Serial 110.460.061. (Nomodel.)

To a. whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatl, HOMER A. PAR-RISE, a citizen of the United States,residing at J ackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricalApparatus for Controlling Signal or other Circuits; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the'art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to electrical appara: tus for actuatingelectrical devices such as electric bells or visual signals, and thoughdesigned for general application, it is especially adapted to actuateelectric signaling apparatussuch as are ordinarily employed in railwayservice; hence I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings theapplication of the invention to an electricalsignaling apparatus for useupon railways,-in which the movingtrain is adapted to automaticallyclose the electric circuit or circuits through the axle and wheelsthereof for the purpose of actuating the electric bell or signal.

The primary object of the invention is to provide two independent butco-acting elec tric circuits including an electric bell or otherelectrical device to be actuated thereby, and a circuit controllercommon to both circuits, whereby the working of the electric bell orother electrical device is assured at each closing of the circuitthrough one or the other circuit in case either fails to act.

Another object is to provide means for automatically putting up the dropof an annunciator in order to open the circuit to an electric hell orother electrical device.

A further object is to provide means for automatically and electricallyputting up the drop of an annunciator so asto close the bell or signalcircuit in an electrical signaling apparatus for railways, and to holdsaid circuit closed until the last blocked rail in the sec tion of thetrack where the signal is located is passed by the moving train.

Other objects are to provide two independent electric bell or signalcircuits controlled by a main or trackcircuit and a circuit-closertherefor,"operating in conjunction with a circuit controller common toboth of the first named circuits, and adapted to automatically close andlock the bell circuits for the desired period of time and also open andlock said circuits at the expiration of such period; and

further to provide an electrical signaling apparatus which shall besimple in construction and efiicient and reliable in use, and whichafter each operation shall be restored to normal position and caused towork with certainty at tion of the railroad track and circuitconnections being shown diagrammatically. Fig. 5 is a diagrammaticalplan of a section of the track. Fig. 6 is a side elevation similar tothat illustrated in Fig. 4, illustrating the application of theinvention toa double track.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical plan of the double track, and Fig.8 is adetail.

Theletters A, A, A A and O, in the drawings, denoteelectrically-insulated rails of a railway track which are included in orform parts of the electric circuits.

B, B, denote other rails of the track which may be insulated from therails A, A, A A and O, by slightly separating the adjacent ends of therails and, if desired, interposing between such ends blocks of Wood,vulcanite, or other suitable insulating material.

D, D, denote uprights or posts which are located in proximity'to thetrack and support the circuit wires E, E, and F, F, which may be strungon said posts in jany proper manner. The rails A and A are connected bythe circuit wires F and F, through the electric circuit-controller G,while the rails A and A are connected through the same apparatus 5 bythe circuit wires E and E; the points of attachment of the railsbeing ateither side of a station, which, for the purpose of the presentillustration, maybe supposed to be located centrally between the posts Dand D,

where the signaling devices are also located. The rails of the track atthe side thereof op- Fig. 2 is a 65 posite the rails A, A, A, A and C,are grounded so as to complete the electric circuits through the axleand wheels of a passing train; the ground connections being shown at G,G G G G The wires F and F lead from the rails A and A, respectively, bywire F to a binding post F through a magnet M, to binding post F thenceby wires f, andf, to binding post F and .thence by wire f throughbattery M. B. and wire f to ground. A wire 0' also leads from bindingpost F to the track rail or conductor section 0. The wires E and E leadfrom the rails A and A respectively, by wire E to binding post E andfrom thence by wire 3, to the wiring of the magnet m, of theannunoiator, thence by wire f, to binding post F and from thence throughbattery M. B. to ground.

S, denotes an electro-magnetic bell or visual signal, which is connectedin circuit with a local battery L. B. by wires 8 and s. The wire 5 leadsfrom one pole of the battery L. B. through the electric hell or signalS, to binding post S and thence to a bracket T, of conducting materialsecured to or depending from the annunoiator device. The wire 8, leadsfrom the opposite pole of the battery to binding post S, and thence to aspring-contact t, which is secured to but insulated from the bracket T.The bracket T is provided with a contact point t, which is adapted tomake contact with the spring t, and close the circuit through the bellwhen said spring is released, as will be hereinafter described. Thiscircuit is held normally open or broken by a sliding rod H which extendsthrough the annunciator magnet m, in position to be struck by the dropm, of the annunciator and forced against the free end of the spring 25,so as to hold the latter out of contact with the contact point t. Therod H may be insulated from the spring 13, by an insulating piece orhead It thereon. It will thus be seen that so long as the drop m, is up,the described bell circuit will remain open, but when the drop falls thespring t, will push the rod I-I toward the drop and close the circuit bycontact with the point t. The drop m, may be pivoted to a bracket 1, andits free upper end is adapted to engage the notched or hooked end of thearmature m of the annunoiator magnet m, so as to be locked thereby, asindicated in Figs. 1, 4t and 6.

The electro-magnet or relay M, is arranged in proximity to theannunoiator and provided with an armature lever N, having an extensionor rod 'n, on the free end thereof adapted to impinge against the dropm, for the double purpose of establishing a second circuit through thebell or signal S, and local battery L. B., and also restoring the dropto proper position to be locked by the armature of the annunciatormagnet when the circuit through the latter is broken. This secondcircuit, (which, for clearness may be termed the secondary bell circuit,while the first mentioned circuit may be termed the primary bellcircuit) maybe completed through the drop, m, the core of magnet'm,bracket T,wire s,binding post S bell S, battery L. 13., wire 8',binding post S, wire 8?, binding post S and through the base plate ofthe magnet M,t0 the armature N, and throughthe extension to thereof tothe drop on, when the latter is in contact with said extension. Thearmature N is provided with a stop spring N, and a retracting spring Ncombined with adjusting screws asshown for the purpose of regulating thetension of the springs. WVhen the magnet m is energized the drop m, willbe released from the locking armature m and by falling upon the rod orextension n, of the armature N, will close the aforesaid secondarycircuit around the relay magnet and at the same time permit the spring25 to push the rod H backward and make contact with=-the contact point25, so asto close the aforesaid primary bell circuit. When both magnetsare inactive and the drop m is up and locked by the armature m bothsignal circuits will be open or broken, but when the magnet M isenergized so as to attract its armature and throw the extension nthereof into contact with the drop an, the primary signal circuit willbe open while the secondary circuit is closed. It will thus be seen thattwo independent but co-acting electric circuits are simultaneouslyestablished through the electric bell or signal by a circuit-closer andan intermediate circuit controlling device common to both circuits. Inthis particular instance the circuit closer consists simply of the axleand wheelsof the train. The closing of either of said circuits willoperate the signal or effect the ringing of the hell, but they are alsoadapted to work in harmony as well as independently of each other, sothat if for any cause one circuit should fail to operate the other willact and thereby insure the operation of the hell or signal.

The operation of the apparatus as thus far described is asfoilowsz-Supposing the parts to be in the relative positions indicatedin Fig. l, and the dotted lines 0 to indicate the axle and wheels of themoving train passing over the track from right to left;-when the wheelscontact with the conducting section A, the circuit will be closedthrough wire F, binding post F thence through magnet M, post F wiresfand f, post F wire f battery M. B. and wire f to ground. Armature Nbeing thus attracted its extension n, will touch drop m, which isalready'locked by armature m and thus close the secondary bell circuitthrough said armature N, the base plate of magnet M, binding post S wire.9 binding post S, wire 8, to battery L. 13., thence through bell S bywire 8, to binding post S thence to bracket T, and through the core ofthe annunoiator magnet m, to drop m, and rod 9%, impinging thereon. Thearmature N, thus electrically locked will so remain until the lastwheels of the train have left said rail A; the rail being made longerthan the distance between the trucks for this purpose.

IIO

It will beimmaterial whether one car or many be upon the track, some ofthe wheels will be on the rail until the last wheel leaves it, whereuponthe armature N will be released and said circuit broken. Continuing themovement of the train in the same direction, when the last wheels haveleft the rails A, armature N being released will permit drop 'm to fallas indicated by the dotted lines in Flg. 8, and still hold the bell orsignal circuit around the magnet M closed, and also close the circuitthrough bracket T, contact point t, wire 8, binding post S bell S,battery L. 13., wire 5, binding post S, and spring t, thus completingtwo distinct circuits to the hell or signal. The. wheels in contact withthe rails A will have previously closed the circuit through the wire E,post E and wire e, to magnet m, and thence by wire f, and post F throughbattery M. B, to ground, locking the armature m and releasing the dropm, so as to permit the latter to fall as soon as the circuit is brokenthrough the magnet M.

The circuit thus closed by means of the axle and wheels connectingtheconducting section A to the opposite ground section will remaln closeduntil the last wheels leave the second rail section A both bell circuitsbeing also closed so that if from any cause one circuit should fail itmay not affect the other. When the wheels reach the rail 0, the magnetM, is again energized, attracting the armature N, and putting up thedrop m, there by opening the primary bell or signal circuit. When thewheels reach the rail A the magnet m will be energized through the wiresE, e, f, f, and battery M. B., to ground, thus attracting the armature mand releasing the drop m, and also closing the primary bell circuit.When the wheels reach the rail A, the armature N will be again raised,forcing up the drop m, and holding it in position to be locked by thearmature m as soon as the latter is released. The armature N will holdup the drop until all wheels have left the last rail A, whereupon saidarmature will be released and all the circuits will be opened. Thisoperation holds good in the movement of the train in either direction.Thus it will be seen that while the bell is constantly sounded duringthe passage of the train over the blocked or electrically-insulatedsection of .the track the signaling devices are automatically renderedinoperative as soon as the train passes the blocked section.

Onegreat advantage of this feature of the invention resides in the factthat in signaling apparatus as heretofore constructed employing locksignals, the train in passing in many instances leaves the signalcircuit closed, .while with my device the opening of the circuit on thepassage of the train is assured and a continuous ringing action iseffected while the train is passing.

In Fig. 6 the wires s and s, of the bell or signal circuitextend torelay signals R, supported onuprights or posts D and D, and from saidsignals the wires are grounded. The results attained are the same asdescribed with relation to Fig. 4, except that the-signals are operatedat a distance from the station in both directions in Fig. 6, while inFig. 4, the bell or signal is located at a station or crossing.Supposing the train to be passing from right to left over the track asillustrated in Fig. 6, the car wheels on the right hand rail A, willclose the circuit through the magnet M, thus causingits armature to makecontact with the drop m, and close the circuit to the relays of thesignals. When the train has passed said rail A, the armature N isreleased and the annunciator armature m is attracted and the drop 9%falls, keeping said signal circuit closed until the last wheels of thetrain have left the last left hand rail A, during which action thelatch-end of the annunciator armature m is raised (by the contact of thewheels with the first left hand blocked rail A to which the wire E' isattached) ready to receive the drop m. Continuing the movement with thelast left hand rail A, to which the wire F is attached, the armature Ncloses, pushing up the drop and holdingit until the last wheels of thetrain have passed the left hand blocked rail A to which the wire E isattached, at which time the latch-end of the annunciator armature mfalls, holding the drop locked by said latch, as described in theoperation of Fig. 4. When the last wheels of the train have passed theblocked rails A, at the left, all circuits are open and the signas areturned to safety.

Referring now to Fig. 7, in which a double track is shown"; the sameresults are attained as with a single track as shown in Fig. 4. In thisarrangement a connection is made from the blocked rail 0 of one track tothe blocked rail G of the other track, by a wire 0 and the wire E, atthe right is attached to the blocked rail A of one track, and the wire Eat the left is attached to the blocked rail A of the other track, wiresF, F, being omitted. In a double track with a central blocked rail 0, itis only necessary to have oneline of wire elevated o.n poles.Consequently the wires F and F, and blocked rails A and A, maybe leftout. In case the signal bell is used, the annunciator is placed at apoint opposite the rail 0 and the wire 0 may be connected to post F Whena train is passing from right to left the operation will be the same asin a single track in connection with wires F, F, the magnet M beingenergized by the closing of the circuit through blocked rail 0, post Fwires f, and f, post F and battery M. B. to ground, putting up said dropand opening all circuits. This holds good in trains running in eitherdirection. As stated, the results are the same with double or multipletracks, but the trains run only in one direction on each individualtrack of the double track, while on a single of the train, when thewheels come in contact IIO track the trains of course run in bothdirections; hence Witha single track the construction at each side ofthe station is alike.

Instead of using the rails as parts of the electric circuits thesignaling devices may be operated by any suitable track instrumentadapted for making and breaking the circuits.

I do not desire to be limited in the application of my invention toelectrical signaling apparatus, as it is obvious that myimproved circuitcontrolling device may be applied to a variety of uses, for instance, inconnection with various telephone systems and other electrical apparatusfor operating visual signals, electric alarms, &c.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an electrical signaling apparatus, the combination with a signal,of two independent electric circuits including the signal, a main ortrack circuit and circuit closer, and an intermediate circuitcontrolling device common to both signal circuits, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with a signal, of two independent electric circuits,a circuit controller common to both circuits, track rails electricallyconnected with the signaling devices through said circuit controller,and means for closing the circuit through the rails, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination with a magnet and a locking armature, of a signal, asignal circuit, and a pivoted drop; a second magnet arranged inproximity to said drop, an armature controlled by said latter magnet andadapted to contact with saiddrop and thereby close said signal circuit,and electrical connections for operating said signal by a moving trainsubstantially as described.

4. The combination with the signal, the two independent circuitsincluding said signal, the magnet, the pivoted drop and the lockingarmature, of a second magnet arranged adjacent to the magnet having thelocking armature and provided with an armature adapted to raise andsustain said drop in a position for engagement by said locking armature,substantially as described.

5. The combination with a signal, of two independent electric circuitsin which said signal is included, one of said circuits being adapted tobe opened when the other is closed, a circuit controller common to bothsignal circuits, and track connections for controlling said circuits,whereby the signal may be actuated by the conjoint or separate action ofthe circuits, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the signal, a circuit controlling magnettherefor and local circuit, of an armature for raising a pivoted drop, amagnet for controlling said armature, and track connections for openingand 010s ing a circuit through said magnet, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the annunciator magnet, of the drop, the signalbell placed in a circuit including said drop, a second bell circuitincluding a spring contact, an insulated sliding rod interposed betweensaid spring and drop, a magnet and armature for raising said dropagainst the pressure of said spring on said rod and thereby breakingsaid second circuit, circuit connections between said magnets and therailway track, and track connections for controlling said magnetcircuits, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the signal bell, its local circuit and a magnetand pivoted drop, of a second magnet and armature for raising the dropand opening the signal circuit, and means for locking said drop when thesignal circuit is broken, substantially as described.

9. The combination with two independent separately and conjointly actingcircuit-s, of a signal included in said circuits so as to 0perate wheneither or both are closed, electrical means common to both circuits forantomatically closing and locking the same from a railway track, andmechanism for opening and locking the circuits after the passage of atrain, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOMER A. PARRISH.

Witnesses:

O. M. J ENKS, B. F. BURGESS.

